Shelby County claim to land under AutoZone Park may influence Memphis' purchase of stadium

April 1, 2000 — AutoZone Park on opening day April 1, 2000. The Redbirds played the St. Louis Cardinals. (Alan Spearman/ The Commercial Appeal)

While Shelby County has some "interest or ownership" in the land AutoZone Park occupies, it's still not clear if the county can block the city of Memphis' purchase of the AAA baseball stadium.

In 1997, the Shelby County Commission approved a resolution that put $4.25 million toward the purchase of the land and other costs in an agreement with the city, said Kelly Rayne, county attorney.

The city would need full ownership of the land if it is to purchase the stadium and enter into a lease agreement with the St. Louis Cardinals organization.

"They're asking us to release all our property rights in the land," Rayne said. "The county had some ownership rights in the land and some interest in the land, based on its contribution for the acquisition."

The Memphis City Council will hold a special meeting on Monday to vote on a deal that would add $25 million in city debt to buy the stadium and contribute to refurbishments.

The Cardinals would buy the Redbirds team for $15 million from the nonprofit Memphis Redbirds Baseball Foundation and pay $300,000 annually in rent at AutoZone Park for 17 years with two five-year options to renew.

Rayne's not certain that the county could block the deal, although the plan is to have a resolution ready for the commissioners to consider during its committee meetings on Wednesday and the full commission on Dec. 16.

"We're reviewing it right now to determine the extent of the county's participation and the required approvals," she said.

In years past, the city has bought the county out of co-ownership deals, paying $75 million in 2011 for the county's interest in the Cook Convention Center and $74.9 million to gain full ownership of the Pyramid in 2009.

County Commissioner Chris Thomas said he wants to hear details before he would be willing to hand over the county's interest in the ballpark.

"If the city's going to make money off the stadium, then we don't need to just give it to them," Thomas said. "We need to get something in return. I'll just look at those details next week."